A Strange Way to Die
I was reading an article this morning titled “Why Was a Man Killed for Touching the Ark of the Covenant?” It is a story found in 2 Samuel 6,” and it made me think (it’s amazing how studying God’s word does that).
The passage is the story of how David decided to bring the Ark of the Covenant from where it had been left in the custody of Eleazar - three generations earlier - as a celebration for the people and to celebrate his rule. During the procession, an ox stumbled and a man named Uzzah put out his hand to prevent the Ark from falling and touched it. God struck him dead immediately.
“And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart, with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark. And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God. And David was angry because the Lord had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day.” - 2 Samuel 6:2-8 ESV
I’ve read this passage several times over my life and realized that it’s a message that God’s commands must be followed. However, this article dug into the story at a much deeper level bringing to light, to me, things that I didn’t know or hadn’t thought of. For example, when God gave Moses instructions for the ark, it included who and how it was to be transported and it wasn’t by a new cart. The article suggests a new cart was closer to the Philistine mode of transportation.
I won’t spoil the rest of the article (it really is good and a quick read) but it ends with a section on worship. One of the final sentences is “It is a grave contradiction when worship degenerates into entertaining the worshiper; it must remain focused on the one who is adored.”
This is where it got me thinking of why I do several of the things I do. For example, I started writing these devotions because I felt compelled to put in writing my thoughts on my first topic. I have tried very hard to wait until the message speaks to me before putting fingers to keyboard so to speak. However, I have found, after doing several, that they force me to focus my faith walk in areas I have not touched on enough before. So now, I can say that I’m writing them for me and sharing them with you.
Or another example, is playing music. I’m in a musical group and occasionally we perform, usually at nursing homes. I question whether I’m performing for their enjoyment or for their applause. Fortunately for me, I like playing music for how it touches me and if I’m part of a group and the music touches someone else I’m even more happy, no applause necessary. In fact, I’m a little embarrassed when someone thanks me for playing something or telling me it was good.
But what about why I go to church. Am I going to worship God in solemn reverence? Or am I going as a social outing? Am I longing to be fed spiritually or physically? Am I expecting to be entertained?
I am an introvert so being the center of attention is not something that I desire so that second question is ok and probably the third question as well (since it is basically a social situation related activity). That leaves me with the first question and the last question. I don’t think I’m motivated to be entertained. I think if I was, I would seek out entertaining specific performance (if Cirque du Soleil comes back to town, you can bet I’ll get tickets). I’m usually more touched by either the elder message or the sermon. That leaves me with the first question.
I’m afraid I’m going to have to think about that for a long time and maybe every time I go to church. Maybe that is the way it should be.
